The Golden Age of the 1930s and 1940s As Hollywood transitioned into the era of sound in the 1930s, it set the stage for what would be known as The Golden Age of Hollywood.
Here's a hot take for you: the 1990s were the best decade for movies ever. It shouldn't be that controversial when you really give it some thought. It was a time of mindblowing innovation, not just in terms of special effects but the kind of stories major studios felt comfortable telling.
It then became characteristic of American cinema during the Golden Age of Hollywood, between roughly 1927 (with the advent of sound film) to 1969. It eventually became the most powerful and pervasive style of filmmaking worldwide.
Many of the films of the '90s incorporated new technologies and tackled issues that were previously thought of as taboo on film. It was another golden decade for Hollywood, as it seemed like there were more and more classic dramas, comedies, action thrillers, and documentaries coming out every year.
At The Movies: Best Films of the Decade. 2009. With Michael Phillips and AO Scott.
Why is Gen Z obsessed with the 90s?
“Members of the millennial and Gen Z generations are especially likely to be prone to nostalgia for the 90s/00s now, as they remember their childhood, teen years and late adolescence,” she says. “Those years predate much of the stress imposed by dramatic transformations in the way we currently live.”
In a nutshell, the 90's were perfectly sandwiched between a time when toys could literally kill you, and later when the internet took over our brains. It was the last decade when people had to rely somewhat on their analog skills to survive, but could also find a decent arcade nearby.
Hollywood's Golden Age finally came to an end due to two main factors: antitrust actions, and the invention of television. The iconic Hollywood sign. Reprinted from Hollywood 1940 – 2008 by Marc Wanamaker (pg. 19, Arcadia Publishing, 2009).
Today, some see the 1980s as a Golden Age, a “Morning in America” when President Ronald Reagan, American conservatives, and baby boomer entrepreneurs revived America's economy, reoriented American politics, reformed American society, and restored Americans' faith in their country and in themselves.
Recent decades are most popular. When asked which decade they think was the best one to live through, one in five choose the 1990s and another 21% choose the 1980s. Few choose the long-ago 1930s or 1940s. More older Americans choose decades further in the past; those under 30 choose more recent decades.
Known as the "post-Cold War decade", the 1990s are culturally imagined by many as the period from the Revolutions of 1989 until the war on terror of the 2000s.
It was a time when so many great directors were putting out some of their best work, and there were plenty of films that tried to do something new or artistic whilst also being accessible and crowd-pleasing.
2014 was a stand-out year in film not only because so many genres were reinvented and reinvigorated (though they were), but because in the cultural introduction of new cinematic voices–and a focus on filmic themes that are still relevant today–2014 was a year that looked boldly, if not always hopefully, to the future.
But the year that really captures the spirit of Hollywood, with big blockbusters, weighty dramas, sprawling epics, timeless comedies, and everything in between is 1984. 1984 saw the launch of a number of franchises still going strong today, with Ghostbusters, The Terminator, and The Karate Kid all debuting that year.
Cite. The 1980s have been called “the decade of decadence,” and one of the era's most notable movie characters, Wall Street's Gordon Gekko, famously declared that “greed is… good.” But the decade was about more than just excess. It was a period marked by defining events that continue to resonate.
Two in five (38%) members of Generation X (born 1965 – 1981) think that the 1980s had the best music, far more than the percentage who believe either the 1990s (18%) or 1970s (17%) were the superior decades for music. Among Baby Boomers (born 1946 – 1964), 38% believe that the 1970s were the best decade for music.
The 1980s were a time of great pop culture including some of the best movies, music, TV shows, and toys of all time. It is the decade most often associated with nostalgia and the style, and memories of the decade, continue to live on.
The rise of streaming services has contributed to the decline of turnout in theaters. Going to the movies is a beloved experience for many, but has become less popular as of late. In 2021, a notably high 61% of Americans skipped out on the moviegoing experience.
Making movies and TV has become a very expensive game. We've seen blockbuster budgets balloon, and many times they do not feel justified. These high budgets mean movies have to earn billions to be profitable. There's so much pressure on studios to make these tentpoles, they're leaving smaller titles behind.
Arguably, the 1990s produced some of the best - or at least, the most influential - television, music, and movies. Indeed, many movie critics have made the case that 1999 was the best year ever for movies, featuring high-quality films that have become part of the cultural dialogue.
The internet went mainstream, grunge and pop dominated music charts, and the president had an affair. And that's just a tiny fraction of what went down. Even if you lived through it, it's easy to forget all of the things that made the '90s truly unique.
The 1990s is often remembered as a decade of relative peace and prosperity: The Soviet Union fell, ending the decades-long Cold War, and the rise of the Internet ushered in a radical new era of communication, business and entertainment.
